Political Science: Interest Groups, Lobbying, Media and Government

Running head: POLITICAL SCIENCE
Political Science
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1POLITICAL SCIENCE
Answer 1)
Interest group refers to organization of the people who have common interest and they
want the promotion of the interest by exerting influence on the government. The interest
groups can be said to vary greatly in terms of size, tactics along with aims. A political party
refers to group of the people who are organized so that they can win the election whereas
interest groups want to influence the policy makers (Berry 2015). The interest groups seek
influence by taking recourse to lobbying and by engaging in the election activities. The
political parties are generally larger groups and the interest group on the other hand
comprises of small group that has a specific interest. The interest groups want to create
influence by educating and mobilizing the public. The interest groups want to educate
government officials along with interest group members.
Answer 2)
Economic interest group is indicative of collection of the people who have the
common concerns. Economic interest group is instrumental in advocating economic benefit
for the members (Gilens and Page 2014). Citizen group refers to organization which is built
around an issue which is not related to the vocational interest of the members. The Economic
groups receive the money from dues of the members and the citizen groups on the other hand
get the funds from the aspect of fundraising of the members (McFarland 2018).
Answer 3)
Insider lobbying makes use of tactics which includes meetings and the members are
enlisted to call the elected representatives. The members mail the letters and they send the e-
mails. These kind of interactions can help in the creation of invaluable opportunities for that
of the members of advocacy committee (Baumgartner and Talbert 2018). It can help in
educating the policy makers regarding issue of concern of organization. The process of inside

2POLITICAL SCIENCE
lobbying helps in building relationship with the politicians who can act as advocate in
relation to certain causes. Outside lobbying acts as grassroots work which is meant for
general public. It helps in raising awareness among the public that helps them in pressurizing
elected officials (Hanegraaff, Beyers and De Bruycker 2016). Tactics made use of in the case
of insider lobbying along with outsider lobbying can be said to be similar as the goal of both
is building broad coalition that can help in affecting change (Dellmuth and Tallberg 2016).
Answer 4)
Political Action Committees (PACS) are made use of for contributing money to the
campain of the candidates. The PAC can contribute to any number of the candidates however
there exist laws that have restrictions in relation to the amount that can be contributed to each
of the candidates. In the case of general election, ceiling amounts to $ 5000 and in primary
election, ceiling is $5000 which makes it $ 10,000 for each candidate (Junk 2016). State
along with local laws helps in the regulation of PAC and it can be said that there exist some
states which allow the aspect of unlined contribution. Contribution of PAC can be said to be
one-fourth of that of the total money that is donated to the campaigns. Most of the PAC are
related with business and they contribute in making up around 60 % (Godwin 2018). PAC’s
are well aware of the fact that incumbents have more chances of winning elections which will
allow them in staying in power.
Answer 5)
Pluralist approach states that competition that exists among the diverse interest can be
said to be good for a democracy. The approach states that completion that exists in between
the groups by citizens can pave the path for a strong democracy. Elite critique points out the
viewpoint that all the civil engagement are not equal and the policies of the government are